1. The topic of this paper will be an idea in science or social studies that interests you. You will begin by making a list of three possible topics, creating research questions, and finally deciding which topic would be the best to use.
In doing this paper, you will utilize the writing skills you have acquired in developing ideas, organizing them, writing with voice and good word choice. Of course, proper use of the conventions of writing is always a goal. The most important reason you are doing this assignment is to learn the process of doing research for a paper. Please do not jump ahead, and come to me with a "finished" paper before we have discussed the steps involved in doing this project. Believe it or not, that has happened!
2. Since this always the first question I am asked about writing assignments, I will tell you right away that the length of the report is three pages, typed in a straight, size 12 font.
You will be required to have three sources of information for this paper; at least two of them must be non-internet sources. That could include books, magazines, pamphlets, and interviews.
DIRECTIONS
1. Choose a topic. Have it approved by Mrs. Spitz.
2. Do some general reading on this topic. If you find some interesting information you think you would probably use in your report, make a note of where to find it. Talk to your friends, parents, teachers about the topic. Get an idea of how other people feel about it.
3. After two days of general reading, you will be asked to write three or four major questions that your report will answer.
4. You will need to visit a library, either Lumen Christi's or a local library to find sources of information. You also may need to find someone who is an authority on your topic and agrees with your opinion to interview.
Creating Bibliography Cards
For every source you consult, you will make a bilbiography card on a 3 x 5 note card. On each card, you will record the author title, and publishing information for that source. You will use this bibliography cards to create your "Works Cited Page" at the end of your report. This page lists all the sources used in the paper. When you create the "Works Cited" page, you will just copy the information from your cards. It is important to assign each card a source code in the upper right-hand corner of each card. This source code will save you time and help you keep track of where your notes come from.
Your bibliography cards will be a little bit different for different types of sources. I have included the types that I think most of you will be using; however, if you have a different type of source, please contact me.
If you have questions about how to format your sources and cannot find the answer here, go to this website. MLA style guide
Internet Source: A Web Site
Author's last name, first name (if there is one) . Name of Page. Date of posting. Name of institution/organization connected with the site.
Date of access [url address]. Example:
Felluga, Dino. Undergraduate Guide to Literary Theory. 17 Dec. 1999. Purdue University. 15 Nov. 2000 [http://omni.cc.purdue.edu].
Internet Source: An article on the a web site
Author's last name, first name (if there is one). "Title of Article." Name of web site. Date of posting. Name of institution/organization connected with the site. Date of access [url address].
Example:
"Germany's Culture". Maps of the World. 1999. MapXL Inc. 25 Apr. 2010 [http://www.mapsofworld.com/germany/germany-country-and-germany-states/germany-culture/].
Book Source:
Author's last name, first name . Name of book(underlined or in italics). City of publication: Name of publisher, date of publication. Example:
Baker, Thomas. Two Suns and a Greek Sky. New York: TAB Books, 1998.
Magazine:
Author's last name, first name ." Article's Title." Magazine/newspaper name , underlined or italicized. Date of publication: page on which article appears.
Example:
Hessler, Peter. "Restless Spirits." National Geographic. Jan. 2010: 108+
Encyclopedia:
"Title of the article". Name of encyclopedia, underlined or italicized. edition and year.
example:
"Germany." World Book. 2006 edition.
You Tube Video:
Last name, first name of the video's speaker. Title of the video in quotes. Date of the video. You Tube underlined or italicized. Date you are viewing it.
Example:
Obama, Barack. "We Have a Lot of Work to Do." Speech. 2 Nov. 2008. YouTube. 23 June 2009.
Video:
Last name, first name of the director. Name of the Film underlined or italicized. Name of the production company, city where the production company is located: date of production.
Example:
Moyers, Bill, dir. Maya Angelou. PBS Home Video, New York: 1991.
Interview:
Last name, first name of the person interview. Type of interview (personal, telephone, email). date of interview (day month year).
Example:
Hemsing, Rev. John. Personal interview. 26 Apr 2010.
YOU MAY ADD MORE SOURCES AS YOU CONTINUE RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC. BE SURE TO MAKE A BIBLIOGRAPHY CARD FOR EACH NEW SOURCE.
Note Cards:
When you begin to read information about your topic, you will want to keep track of this information by taking short notes on 3 x 5 cards.
On each card, 1. put the source number in the upper right corner (This is the number you put on the bibliography card for this source.)
2. write a note about just ONE idea on the card.
3. If you have an idea of the subtopic that your note belongs in, you could make a note of that subtopic at the top of the card.
You should have several note cards about one subtopic of your research. It is not necessary to write your notes in sentences, in fact, you really shouldn't. DO NOT COPY the exact text from the source. Write a paraphrase of it in your own words.
You will have many note cards when you finish researching your topic, probably 35 - 50 cards.
Creating the Bibliography Page
1. Begin by organizing your bibliography cards in alphabetical order by the first word on the card (The articles don't count.)
2. Type the word Bibliography in the center of your paper. Give yourself a two inch top margin.
3. Double or triple space, and then type the information from your bibliography card. DO NOT NUMBER these entries. If you organized your
card correctly, your entries will be correct.
4. Single space the lines of information in the entries. Begin at the left hand margin. If you need to type a second or third line(s), INDENT those. This will look exactly the opposite of a paragraph!
5. Double space between entries.
Sixth Grade language arts page
INFORMATION for the Persuasion Paper
1. The topic of this paper will be an idea in science or social studies that interests you. You will begin by making a list of three possible topics, creating research questions, and finally deciding which topic would be the best to use.
In doing this paper, you will utilize the writing skills you have acquired in developing ideas, organizing them, writing with voice and good word choice. Of course, proper use of the conventions of writing is always a goal. The most important reason you are doing this assignment is to learn the process of doing research for a paper. Please do not jump ahead, and come to me with a "finished" paper before we have discussed the steps involved in doing this project. Believe it or not, that has happened!
2. Since this always the first question I am asked about writing assignments, I will tell you right away that the length of the report is three pages, typed in a straight, size 12 font.
You will be required to have three sources of information for this paper; at least two of them must be non-internet sources. That could include books, magazines, pamphlets, and interviews.
DIRECTIONS
1. Choose a topic. Have it approved by Mrs. Spitz.
2. Do some general reading on this topic. If you find some interesting information you think you would probably use in your report, make a note of where to find it. Talk to your friends, parents, teachers about the topic. Get an idea of how other people feel about it.
3. After two days of general reading, you will be asked to write three or four major questions that your report will answer.
4. You will need to visit a library, either Lumen Christi's or a local library to find sources of information. You also may need to find someone who is an authority on your topic and agrees with your opinion to interview.
Creating Bibliography Cards
For every source you consult, you will make a bilbiography card on a 3 x 5 note card. On each card, you will record the author title, and publishing information for that source. You will use this bibliography cards to create your "Works Cited Page" at the end of your report. This page lists all the sources used in the paper. When you create the "Works Cited" page, you will just copy the information from your cards. It is important to assign each card a source code in the upper right-hand corner of each card. This source code will save you time and help you keep track of where your notes come from.
Your bibliography cards will be a little bit different for different types of sources. I have included the types that I think most of you will be using; however, if you have a different type of source, please contact me.
If you have questions about how to format your sources and cannot find the answer here, go to this website.
MLA style guide
Internet Source: A Web Site
Author's last name, first name (if there is one) . Name of Page. Date of posting. Name of institution/organization connected with the site.Date of access [url address].
Example:
Felluga, Dino. Undergraduate Guide to Literary Theory. 17 Dec. 1999. Purdue University. 15 Nov. 2000 [http://omni.cc.purdue.edu].
Internet Source: An article on the a web site
Author's last name, first name (if there is one). "Title of Article." Name of web site. Date of posting. Name of institution/organization connected with the site. Date of access [url address].Example:
"Germany's Culture". Maps of the World. 1999. MapXL Inc. 25 Apr. 2010 [http://www.mapsofworld.com/germany/germany-country-and-germany-states/germany-culture/].
Book Source:
Author's last name, first name . Name of book(underlined or in italics). City of publication: Name of publisher, date of publication.Example:
Baker, Thomas. Two Suns and a Greek Sky. New York: TAB Books, 1998.
Magazine:
Author's last name, first name ." Article's Title." Magazine/newspaper name , underlined or italicized. Date of publication: page on which article appears.Example:
Hessler, Peter. "Restless Spirits." National Geographic. Jan. 2010: 108+
Encyclopedia:
"Title of the article". Name of encyclopedia, underlined or italicized. edition and year.example:
"Germany." World Book. 2006 edition.
You Tube Video:
Last name, first name of the video's speaker. Title of the video in quotes. Date of the video. You Tube underlined or italicized. Date you are viewing it.Example:
Obama, Barack. "We Have a Lot of Work to Do." Speech. 2 Nov. 2008. YouTube. 23 June 2009.
Video:
Last name, first name of the director. Name of the Film underlined or italicized. Name of the production company, city where the production company is located: date of production.Example:
Moyers, Bill, dir. Maya Angelou. PBS Home Video, New York: 1991.
Interview:
Last name, first name of the person interview. Type of interview (personal, telephone, email). date of interview (day month year).Example:
Hemsing, Rev. John. Personal interview. 26 Apr 2010.
YOU MAY ADD MORE SOURCES AS YOU CONTINUE RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC. BE SURE TO MAKE A BIBLIOGRAPHY CARD FOR EACH NEW SOURCE.
Note Cards:
When you begin to read information about your topic, you will want to keep track of this information by taking short notes on 3 x 5 cards.
On each card, 1. put the source number in the upper right corner (This is the number you put on the bibliography card for this source.)
2. write a note about just ONE idea on the card.
3. If you have an idea of the subtopic that your note belongs in, you could make a note of that subtopic at the top of the card.
You should have several note cards about one subtopic of your research. It is not necessary to write your notes in sentences, in fact, you really shouldn't. DO NOT COPY the exact text from the source. Write a paraphrase of it in your own words.
You will have many note cards when you finish researching your topic, probably 35 - 50 cards.
Creating the Bibliography Page
1. Begin by organizing your bibliography cards in alphabetical order by the first word on the card (The articles don't count.)2. Type the word Bibliography in the center of your paper. Give yourself a two inch top margin.
3. Double or triple space, and then type the information from your bibliography card. DO NOT NUMBER these entries. If you organized your
card correctly, your entries will be correct.
4. Single space the lines of information in the entries. Begin at the left hand margin. If you need to type a second or third line(s), INDENT those. This will look exactly the opposite of a paragraph!
5. Double space between entries.